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"When it had cooled off, I felt I couldn't wait any longer! I spent hours making my blade out of wood and then I packed it into the slightly oily sand. When it was packed, I removed the wooden shape that was to be replaced by metal. Then, in front of the gods and everyone else, I poured the almost 2000° molten metal into the hole and let it cool. Later, it was cool enough to pull out the metal. I reached into the sand with the pliers and pulled it out. As the sand fell off from the blade, I saw my athame glinting in the noon sun. It was like I gave birth to a new life! Something that I shaped with my hands in wood was now the metal of the ancients, formulated from the same alloy used in a statue to Isis, more than 2600 years ago!"
Welcome to the Mouth of the Dragon and the Belly of the Forge!
With these words, the smiths of Iron Oak welcome those who have come to cast, to forge, to create out of wood, metal, or other media. We are the smiths of Iron Oak and the Guild of Govannan is our family. We are here to help students create sacred beauty with their hands and their hearts.
Since the beginning, the Iron Oak tradition included the making of ritual tools-the Sacred Work. This was the work of the ancient smith and alchemist…the true alchemist. Not the 'puffer' who wanted to get rich quick by turning lead into gold, but the true alchemist who saw the Sacred Work on Earth as a mirror of the Sacred Work in Heaven.
"Solve et coagula"
Our Credo is "Solve et coagula, et habebis magisterium", Dissolve and bind, and you will have mastery. Its meaning hides many secrets but the bottom line is this: You are defined by the work that you do. If you value your work, if you make the product of your labors sacred, then you will have done the most holy magic of the ancient smiths - you will have transformed the base material into the Sacred Work. By that transformation, you will have changed as well.
The Guild of Govannan is the smith coven of Iron Oak. We train ourselves help the students that come to Iron Oak make their Sacred Tools for ritual. We also experiment with new processes and materials to be used in future workshops.
The Magick Goes In Before the Name Goes On!
We do not teach those who wish to make utility tools. We teach those who wish to make tools for their altars. The work is hard, but the rewards are great! By helping others regain the lost art of the Sacred Work, we have given honor to the Gods of the Smiths, and by Their hand, we are guided.
Solve et Coagula!